#London cabinet makers

[londonedge]

Contrasting times on the side of a building, Bethnal Green

The ghost sign for the old cabinet makers and upholsterers contrasts with the modern graffiti

[scotianostra]

On August 27th 1788 the trial began of Deacon William Brodie, a respected pillar of Edinburgh society by day, a thief and housebreaker by night.

Brodie is said to have been the inspiration of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which was published a century later.

The prestigious title of deacon did not refer to religion, as many assume, but instead to his presidency of one of Edinburgh's trades guilds. His trade was as a cabinet-maker and his position as deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights made him a member of the town council.

The trial of William Brodie for breaking into and robbing the General Excise Office for Scotland took place at Edinburgh on 27th and 28th August, 1788. The story of his strange career is as enthralling as any romance. The double life which he so long and successfully led – as a respected citizen and town councillor by day, and by night the captain of a band of housebreakers – was the wonder of the country at the time. Nowadays you would call it a celebrity trial.

Brodie was quite rich with 10,000 pounds and three houses that he inherited from his father. He also inherited the business, allowing him to sustain the wealth. Traveling in the highest social circles, Brodie had the key to almost all of the richest people’s houses. Literally. No wealthy Edinburgh resident would ever think that such a respected man would keep a copy of their key in his drawer and that he would slip inside their homes after nightfall to steal everything worth taking.

During the day, he was a well-known gentleman who shared jovial times with his rich customers and enjoyed the company of highly respected persons such as himself, but during the night, Brodie could be found gambling in the dark corners of Edinburgh, accruing debts that forced him to consider a life of crime, and so, he became a thief.

After installing a lock in a rich man’s home, Brodie would also make a copy of the key for himself. Not because he collected souvenirs, but because he intended to visit those homes again, some other night when a burglary without breaking in but entering the house with a key would be his tactic. In this way, the man had supplemental payment to support his double life as a gentleman by day and a gambler in the evenings. On top of everything, Brodie had to support his five children by two mistresses who didn’t know of each other’s existence.

Allegedly, his criminal career began around 1768, when he stole 800 pounds from a bank that he sneaked into during the night by using a key. The Deacon’s nightlife was filled with gambling, robbing, and stealing. He didn’t mix his daily business and finances with his nightlife. Whenever he would fall into debt while gambling, he had the “ace key” that would pay off his debts.

Another source says that although Brodie had already robbed a bank, his real criminal career began in the summer of 1786 when he met George Smith, an Englishman. Brodie and Smith got into business together, targeting the rich people’s homes in Old Town. By the end of that same year, the duo had successfully robbed a tobacconist and a goldsmith’s.

Soon, the Deacon and the Englishman recruited two other members to their group: Andrew Ainslie, a shoemaker, and John Brown, a thief. In 1787, the gang stole tea from a grocer’s store in Leith. Back then, tea was a valuable commodity, a luxury that only members of the elite could afford to buy.

Encouraged by their success, the gang, led by the Deacon, decided to steal the revenues of Scotland from an Excise office in Chessel’s Court on the Canongate. They organized an armed raid, and for the first time, instead of welcoming themselves inside with a key, they broke in. However, they managed to steal only 16 pounds when they were caught. The unsuccessful robbery led Brown to claim the King’s Pardon the same night and named Smith and Ainslie as the culprits.

When his partners got arrested, Brodie traveled to London, and from there he boarded a ship to Amsterdam. But, since there was a reward for Brodie, he was tracked down in Holland and shipped back to Edinburgh. He and his friend Smith were tried on August 27, 1788. Although at first there wasn’t any strong evidence against Brodie, he was convicted after a disguise, pistols, and of course, copied keys were found in his workshop. After a trial that lasted only 21 hours, Brodie was hanged in front of 40,000 people on October 1st that very year.

You can read an account of his trial here https://archive.org/.../trialofdeaconbro00brod_djvu.txt

[believesthings]

Not Just A Girl - Chapter 10 // Jason Sudeikis x Reader

Jason is singing in the shower and it echoes down the hallway to reach your ears in the kitchen. He’s trying to lure you in as a siren would a sailor. The water heating in the kettle, the ultimate promise of caffeine, helps to keep you grounded.

You scoop one foot underneath you when you sit at the kitchen table to scroll through messages on your phone. Will wants to know all about your trip. He is somewhere on the eastern seaboard back stateside and reminds you that there is ‘only’ a five hour time difference. In Poulter-speak that translates to: call me or else.

Todd had sent a few messages asking after your plans – then just requesting that you call him. You check the time. It is still a little early to be calling, even if the messages say ASAP. Brett, evidently still on London time – poor thing, has sent you a list of a few places to wander while waiting for Jason. Honestly you aren’t all that interested in sightseeing without having Jason there to share the moment but you’ll take Brett’s advice all the same.

You are just finishing pushing the plunger down on the French press when Jason enters the kitchen. He wraps you in his arms, careful not to interfere with your pouring of the hot liquid. “Hmm smells fantastic.”

You press yourself back into his body for a minute but your craving for caffeine ultimately draws your forward again to retrieve your mug from the counter top. Coffee in hand you settle back into the chair that you had claimed at the table. He remains standing, choosing to lean back against the counter near the sink. After a sip at his mug he tilts his head towards the coffee machine, his question silent.

“I found the press while searching for the packets for the coffee maker.” You shrug with your reply.

Jason eyes you and opens the cabinet just above the machine to reveal the needed supplies. You scowl. You could have sworn you looked there.

“You could have come to ask me.” He knows why you didn’t but voices the comment all the same. “What are your plans for the day?”

You swirl your coffee around in the mug. “Go to the park? Maybe window shop. I’ll figure something out to keep myself entertained. I do owe everyone back home a few calls, eventually. Todd was particularly adamant.”

“More news regarding the All Your Monsters sequel?”

Such an adorable fanboy. “You’ll know as soon as I know anything more about the project….. He’s probably just worried I’ll get lost wandering around London.” You look at your phone with a slight scowl before rolling your eyes.

Jason chuckles and checks his watch, setting him in motion again. “I second Todd on that. Please don’t get lost. I’ll keep you updated as best I can regarding the day. We could do lunch if you find yourself nearby when we break?” He waits until you nod before setting his mug down and patting his pockets. You can see the outline of his phone in his pocket and hear the jingle of his keys when he taps them. “Keys! You’ll need a key…” Jason hurtles from the kitchen leaving you blinking after him. You are about to stand to find out where he rocketed off to when he bounds back into the kitchen, stopping just short of you and squatting down to be closer to eye level with you. He presses a single shining key into your hand. “Glad I remembered where I’d stashed that.” He rests his hands on your knees while you examine the key, “The uh – lock sometimes sticks, just so you know.”

You nod, finally pulling your eyes away from the silver key and up to meet his gaze.

He puffs out a sigh, “I wish I could stay and have breakfast… among other things.” He leans forward to kiss you, sliding his hands up your thighs to your hips before disengaging and moving to stand again.

“Was that payback for not joining you in the shower?” You lick your lips after he stands fully. Your body is now humming with desire again. Damn you Sudeikis.

He shrugs mischievously and pats his pocket to indicate his phone while walking towards the door. “Let me know what Todd has to say.”

You wait a moment after you hear the door click shut before stirring from your seat. The bathroom still smells like his soap. You stand in the middle of the floor breathing in the scent, reticent to alter it to the smell of your own body wash and shampoo.

Jason had been wearing jeans and a light jacket so you pull out the only sweater you packed to ward off the early morning chill. Mindful of Todd'’s curious insistence for caution you set your ball cap and sunglasses next to your bag so you’ll remember to wear them while wandering today. You recheck the side pockets of your bag but still your bracelet doesn’t present itself. You’ll have to remember to see if Todd will look around your hotel room and double check your packed away belongings, just to settle your mind as to its whereabouts. Dressed and ready for the day you tap out messages to Will and Todd to let them know you are awake and they can call you whenever they would like.

Your phone nearly immediately buzzes but you ignore the text until you’ve made sure that the door to Jason's place is secured. You glance down and laugh aloud at Will's response.

That was not a phone call.

You are about to respond when his call comes through.

“You’re up early.”

“Jason had to get up to go in. You know how I am, once I’m up… Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” You are trying to remember which direction you want to walk to get to the park. Jason had told you about his early morning walks so often you want to see what it is like there at this time of day.

There is chatter in the background as Will responds. “Haven’t gotten to bed yet – too many things to do and people to see. There’s time to nap before the panel.” You can hear him jostling the phone around. “And what you said just registered. Maybe I do need sleep after all… Jason had to get up… Your voice changes when you talk about him, you know.”

And now you’re fighting a fierce flush. You are caught mid-laugh when you glance to the side as you pass a magazine vendor and find several magazine featuring some sort of spin on The Battle of the Costars. “Oh for fuck’s sake.” The vendor looks up at your sharply and Will’s rambling stops when he hears you curse. You’ve stopped walking and step towards the magazines for a closer look, speaking softly into your phone and also apologizing to the vendor. “Sorry. Sorry, Will Sorry, sorry. I’m out walking and just…. I’ll share some details about the trip with you later but I need to…” You pick up one of the magazines at random, pay for it, and continue walking before you resume your rant. “Apparently since I was cast opposite Brett the media here has really been pushing a love triangle development between Jason, myself, and Brett That stupid Battle of the Costars article…”

“You know, I was Jason's costar at one point too - I'm a little offended that I'm not included.” Will's trying to make you laugh and distract you. His comment at least draws a little smile from you to dull the annoyance you’re feeling.

“Someone brought it up last night during drinks and he bristled a bit. He was all smiles, but you could see it in his eyes… But – God, Will, I don’t think he can go anywhere here without seeing it mentioned and I hate that for him.” You sigh and look down at the magazine in your hand.

The background noise is gone from Will’s end and you know that he has ducked away to have privacy to talk to you. “Maybe, maybe you shouldn’t even read it – the article. Just throw it away. You don’t need those voices in your head. Just be with him and enjoy the moment. You sounded so happy when you answered the phone - ah -  before the cursing.”

You don’t throw the magazine away but rather shove it down into the depths of your bag. You still plan on talking with Jason about it further, the short chat you had last night doesn’t begin to cover your frustration over the issue, but Will has a point. That's part of mindfulness, right? Staying away from Media first thing in the morning because it's like you're saying that other people's thoughts are more important than your own. You do your best to push your annoyance with the media aside in favor of the contentment you felt this morning – well – contentment wish a dash of lust because Jason was being a tease. 

“I was happy. I am happy. Just because a complete stranger puts something into print doesn’t mean it is true." 

"That’s my girl. So you’re out walking?" 

You’re still a few minutes from the park. "Yes. I thought I’d go see where Jason has mentioned that he likes to walk sometimes before grabbing something for breakfast." 

"And you’re where, again?” You relay to him the intersection you just passed. He takes a minute before recommending a few places to eat. It seems everyone has recommendations for what you should be doing during your visit. You ring off after promising to arrange a time see him once you were back stateside, and he was back in LA again, so that you can enjoy wandering through the park and taking photos of the scenery.  

After strolling around the park near Jason’s place, and adding more than a few photos to the growing collection on your phone, you make your way to one of the nearby cafés that Will recommended. You consume a light breakfast before wandering on towards the shops where Brett suggested you browse. It is convenient that there are shops dotting the streets between your current location and where Jason is working.

You mostly plan on window shopping and people watching to pass the time. The only thing that is really on your shopping list is something barely there and made of lace. Jason might not have complained but it is hard to feel sexy in yoga gear - or rather - being peeled out of yoga gear. While you wander, and while Jason is still waiting for his scenes, you exchange messages regarding the progression of the morning.

You have made the mistake of referring to the park where he walks as ‘his little park’, and he now refuses to refer to it as anything else. We’ll walk there tomorrow , maybe even run, f you’re up for it. You may not like MY LITTLE PARK so much then.

You tap back a response, while unable to decide between the variations of the lingerie you have sought out. We’ll walk/run there tomorrow if YOU are up for it. You are the one at work right now. I need your opinion. Blue, red, grey, black? 

His reply is quick:

All of the above? How does that relate to running? Or work? I’m lost, baby.

It doesn’t. Choose one please. Does it help if I further define the colors? Royal blue, cherry red, gunmetal grey, midnight black? You’d describe the lace patterns too but then that might give him too much of a hint and would take away the fun of keeping him guessing.

Not in the slightest. Context?

Oh just pick a color. “You’ll thank me later, Jase.” You murmur.

You huff at his next message. I stand by my answer until you give me more to go on.

Fine. When you are stubborn, this is what you get Jason… You arrange the lingerie side by side, snap a photo and send it to him. You’re starting to lean towards the gunmetal grey one – the pattern of the lace is slightly different than the others and the color looks nice against your skin. It is taking him a moment to respond… If he likes what he sees you’ll gladly reap the rewards once back at his place. That is, after all, the point of purchasing said item of clothing.

Jason's reply makes you laugh aloud which draws a few curious glances. Theo would like to know why I just spat my water all over him. My answer stands – all of the above. Of course now they’re giving us a five minute warning. While Theo dries out I need to go try to settle my mind again.

You are halfway through responding when you see a message from Todd. Out of meetings, finally. Call if you are able.

You finish your apology to Jason quickly, Sorry Jason! Sorry! Though I did try to keep you in the dark… Go get into character and I’ll get back to my shopping. Remembering that he had said that he didn’t think they would be finished by noon you add to your note. Will we be okay meeting at 1?

Yes. Meet me there. Silly to have you walk to meet me and then backtrack. You find yourself nodding in response, as though he can see you.

He may have said yes to all four of the colors, but you only have so much space in your suitcase. You are back to comparing each of the four when you dial Todd’s number. He sounds a bit hesitant in greeting you which makes you wince. “Todd? Don’t tell me that they’re asking me to come back already. I just got here….” And I really want to wear one of these – any of these – all of these – and see Jason’s reaction…

“What? No? No. Not that I’ve heard. Look…” When he has bad news he always slows down the tempo of his speech. You’ve learned to be wary of his carefully measured words. “Charlie and I have been talking and agree that it might be a good idea to look into personal security for you.”

You trace your fingertips over the lace patterns, “You know I’m not crazy about the idea of having someone babysitting me. Has something happened?”

He hems a bit and you hear the rustle of papers. Suddenly you find the image of the stack of hate mail that he had in his office appearing in your head. Maybe you were - thereby he was getting more? Oh wow – that thought makes your stomach clench.

“Just – I feel like a broken record here – be careful. You’re in the headlines now whether you want to admit it or not. You haven’t been telling people on set, or anybody there, exactly where you’ll be moving, right?”

Had you? You try to think back. “I – um – no? I don’t think so… Just that I’m excited about having my own place again? Oh, speaking of my own place and Charlie and the hotel… Can you possibly go by and see if I packed my silver bracelet in the bag I left in the room? You know the one –”

Mark cuts you off, “That your mother gave you. I’ll see what I can do. So now that we have the work part of the call behind us – how’s London?”

“A little chilly at the moment but I’ve got a jacket and…”

“And Jason.” He laughs.

You continue while ducking your head to hide your smile, “And a hat on. I’ll do my best not to get sick while I’m here.” You replace the blue and red pieces in their respective piles in the store’s display and scoop up the gunmetal and the black negligées to take to the register.  

“I’m sure Brett and the crew will greatly appreciate your efforts.” He is still laughing at you but is thankfully interrupted. “And there’s my call waiting. I wrote myself a note regarding the bracelet. Don’t worry. It will turn up. Have fun over there.”

For the remainder of the morning you return to your original plan of window shopping. You have to keep reminding yourself that your suitcase is fairly small and was pretty full on the trip over – not to mention the fact that you want to avoid a charge for extra weight if you can help it.

You’ve meandered your way towards the restaurant where Jason wanted to meet. The day has warmed up enough that you are able to remove your jacket and wait for his arrival while standing out on the sidewalk in the sunshine. 

A quick check of the time on your phone confirms what you suspect – Jason is running a little late. Really he should be staying on set during his lunch break, not meeting up with you. If you keep this up you’ll become known as 'the woman that distracts Jason from his work at every chance’. Even with the restaurant being in close proximity it adds costume changes and additional time in makeup and… You are about to call him to tell him not to worry about lunch - that you’ll see him at his place at the end of the day, when you see him appear around the corner of the building. Jason’s silhouette stands out in the crowd of people, at least to your eye.

You smile when you realize that he is hurrying. Is this a prelude to seeing him walk (or possible run) tomorrow? He may be running a few minutes late but that is no need to jog. You tilt your head to the side while watching his gait a little more closely. No.. that is closer to running. 

Your curiosity stifles your giggle as you watch Jason running up the sidewalk towards you – did your picture of your lingerie purchases inspire him to want to see you that badly? You start to lift your hand in both greeting and question when he spots you and starts making hand motions to you in return. His is not a wave of greeting but frantic motions for you to go in the restaurant. You see why momentarily.

Jason is being chased.

What is going on? You are supposed to be meeting Jason at a restaurant during his lunch break – how had that devolved into the chaos you see on the sidewalk? As a result of his full out sprint Jason has already nearly run the length of the building. You are looking past his frantic motions at the crowd of paparazzi that is trying to catch up to him. Really you should be turning to run but you are stuck, taking it all in. This is exactly why large groups make you nervous. The door to the restaurant swings open and the hostess pops out, drawing your attention away from the quickly approaching group. You are grateful that you had thought to check in with the hostess and tell her that you were going to wait on the sidewalk – she is talking hurriedly into her headset while waving her hand to signal that you can seek out shelter in the building.

Jason’s sharp bark brings your focus back to him as he slows his pace to close the final steps between the two of you. “Sweetheart. Get. Inside. Now!” You have time to spin to face the building before Jason reaches you, slightly out of breath. “Go – go – go. They’ll stop, I hope, at the door.”

You nod to the hostess, “Thanks.” She smiles and swings the door shut behind the three of you, motioning across the building towards the end of the bar where a woman is waiting. Pausing in the entryway you shift your bag more securely onto your shoulder, “Jason, are we staying here or…?” You can probably keep up with Jason, at least for a little while, if he chooses to just dash through the building and keep running. It’ll be more difficult with your bag to worry about but you’ll figure something out.

The fastest of those in pursuit reach the restaurant’s doorway moments after Jason grabs your hand and pulls you towards the manager moving the pair of you along the bar and into the mingling crowd in the restaurant. The first few to reach the door are hesitant as to the next course of action. Will they follow the pair of you inside or lie in wait on the sidewalk? Jason will have to emerge to go back to work at some point, after all. Patrons inside have noticed your grand entrance and pause in their dining to watch the events unfold, a few of them standing to get a better look.

“I suppose that depends on her.” Jason nods his head to the woman who is visibly bouncing while she waits for the pair of you to reach her. He has your hand firmly grasped with his so you keep your eyes on the door to watch the group on the sidewalk growing in size. With each additional member the confidence level of the group seems to grow.

You speak up when the first wave of people swing the door wide open only to be met by the hostess and a few of the waiters who have stopped their usual routines to stand in the entryway. “Um… Jason?” You give his hand a squeeze to get his attention.

The woman scowls at the group now pouring in the door. “Ugh. They’d better get appetizers, at least. Hello, I’m the manager here.”

“Sorry about this. We had intended on a quiet lunch but… Someone should arrive soon to pick us up. I managed to get a call out before all hell broke loose on the way here.” Jason is waving his free hand in circles while he talks to the manager. The motion of his arm draws your attention to the sleeve of his shirt which is pulled slightly out of shape. Wasn’t he wearing a jacket this morning? Hopefully he had chosen to leave it behind and wasn’t relieved of it on the way here. Poor Jason – what exactly had happened to him on the way to meet you?

The restaurant’s manager is surveying the efficiency of her staff as they react to the swell of people trying to gain entrance. The few already inside are searching the faces of the patrons closest to them, trying to pick the pair of you out of the crowd. They haven’t yet looked down the bar to spot you but if you remain in the unobstructed spot much longer it is inevitable that you’ll be discovered. “I’d offer you a table but we need to get things quieted down in here first. Should get you two out of sight. Only door that locks is the office but there’s no time to…” You are distracted by the noise level in the restaurant rising and the rest of her sentence is lost to you.

Jason takes a moment to pause and pull you around him so he stands between you and those in pursuit. Since you are no longer holding onto Jason’s hand to reassure yourself of his presence you focus on the pressure of his palm against your back. “Someplace else?” He looks around for inspiration, “Through the kitchen?”

“That group is not going to run through my kitchen! No… Should be able to make them think you ducked out the back and hide you… this way.” She spins and leads the pair of you down a hallway and once it turns you see that she has paused to push open a side door revealing the supplies room. “Not glamorous but, in you go.”

You briefly glimpse the large steel door that must lead to the outside world before stepping into the supplies room – closet, a more accurate word. It takes a second for your eyes to adjust to the lack of light once inside the small room. Aside from the cleared space to allow the door to open there isn’t much room to stand. As soon as the door shuts Jason leans his weight against it. In the gloom he looks as though he is preparing for a photo shoot rather than trying to make sure the door remains closed. You reach out to find his arm, then let your hand travel up to rest on his chest. You lean into him, feeling his heart still beating rapidly. He wraps his arm around you and talks softly into your hair after kissing the top of your head, “Are you alright?”

“I’m not the one that was chased here.” You shake your head and smile into the dark.

“This is not how I saw lunch going today.”

Oh Jason. You can hear the movements of the manager in the hallway. She is trying to sell the idea that the pair of you are making a run for it down the alleyway behind the restaurant. “This isn’t something you could have predicted.”

“It’s just that the food here is fantastic. I think you would have enjoyed…” Jason stops speaking when the sound of assorted squeals and shouts announce the arrival of those who are pursuit as they squeeze into the hallway. The door to the supplies room remains closed though you feel impact vibrations as jostling ensues in the hallway.

The restaurant manager is scolding the group and practically yelling to be heard over the group’s combined chattering. “Alright you lot chased them away.”

A few sound disheartened at the news. You hear the door hinge signal that someone has opened the door to the alleyway. Though it is muffled you can make out a conversation between two people on the other side of the door. “What? Did she say ‘them’?”

“Yea! Ohmigawd didn’t I tell you I thought I saw her on the sidewalk? C’mon, maybe…”

“No. No more running today. Please.”

The bickering fades as the manager does her best to clear out the more stubborn individuals in the crowd. Evidently a few haven’t fallen for the ruse or else are too winded to immediately move on. You can feel that Jason's pulse has finally resumed a normal pace. Once the noise of the group dies down you risk speaking again, though still keeping your voice low on the off chance that there are still a few of the search party seeking you out in the hallway. “Did they chase you the whole way here?”

From now on you need to make it a point to be leaning against him when he chuckles. “Hmm. No, not the whole way, but once one started to run the rest did. After that I was just trying to stay ahead of them.”

You lean back to look at him and pinch a bit of his shirt between your fingers to tug on it, “They caught you at some point, I think?”

He grins down at you, “Only for a moment.”

You both freeze and fall silent when you hear tapping on the door but relax when you hear the manager’s voice. “Sorry that took so long. Most of them are back out on the sidewalk.” You sidestep Jason to squeeze back out into the brightness of the hallway. She is shaking her head while sizing the pair of you up. “Should have seen them sprinting off down the alley. If you’d like we can go back out and seat you at the bar? I owe you for stuffing you in with the mops.”

He has already pulled out his phone and is typing out a message. “The where doesn’t matter. Thank you for providing us shelter. Let me see how close they are.”

“Even if they insist on Jason riding back I might stay – he said your food is fantastic and frankly I’m starving.” You smile over at Jason has paused typing out his message to give you a stern look. “What?”

“When I go, you go.”

The manager is leading the way back through the hallway. “And what, ask nicely if they’ll drop me off at your place?”

“Of course not. You’ll come back to the set with me.” He glances down at his phone before addressing the manager while she points out two seats at the end of the bar. “They’ll be here soon to pick us up out front. I do want her to try your food while she’s in London. Can I make a reservation for tomorrow?”

She nods. “Yes, but you’ll not have to wait till tomorrow for a taste of our food. You’ll not be leaving here empty handed. I’ll get a sampler bagged as quickly as possible.”

Things have settled back down in the restaurant though you note that a few people nearby noticed your quiet re-entrance to the room. A few diners are taking photos with their phones but nobody comes over to interact with the pair of you. Those waiting outside on the sidewalk probably won’t give you as much consideration. Rather than worry about that now you continue to try to talk Jason out of his stubbornness. “I’ll only be in the way if I go back with you.” You shake your head, “I’ll ride with you back to set if you insist on leaving here together. And, and then I’ll get a cab to your place.”

From the look on his face this is clearly not a discussion where you will end up getting your way. “You won’t be in the way. Besides, if you’re on set I’ll know you’re alright.”

Visiting while they were still in pre-production was one thing but during filming? “At least call and get approval.” He won’t have any choice but to let you go back to his place if they deny his request.

Before he can place the call his phone starts to ring. He nods towards the door after looking at the incoming number. “They’re here.” While he talks on the phone you stand and assess the crowd again. Before you can lean to scoop up your bag Jason has picked it up and slings it over his own shoulder. While you are winding your way through the patrons towards the door someone hurries out of the kitchen holding your bag of food. Hopefully they’ll let you eat in the car. Even with your nerves making your stomach do flips you find that you really are quite hungry. That’s what you get for eating such a light breakfast this morning.

You take a moment to thank both the hostess and the manager again. Bless them for being so quick to react to the situation as it happened. A two man security team has cleared the path between the car and the restaurant door. One takes the bag of food and nods to Jason while the other takes up his position next to you.

Jason wraps his arm protectively over your shoulder while the guard on your right gives instructions. "Just walk straight to the car. Don’t stop. I’ll get the door. get in and slide across so Jason can sit. We’ll be outta here before you know it.” 

Jason is grinning at you triumphantly from the other side of the expansive backseat of the car. The powers-that-be had said yes to his request that you spend the rest of the day on set. Of course they had said yes to him. Jason's breaks were also restricted to the location now to prevent any further incidents but he was choosing to overlook that detail to focus on the fact that he would have you in close proximity for the rest of the day. Now you just had to figure out what to do with yourself so you would be out of the way while everyone around you was working.

Traffic and one way streets are making the ride back to the location a bit longer than you would have guessed since Jason had been able to walk the distance. While munching on the contents of one of the numerous takeaway boxes Jason is pointing out the route he took to both you and the security team. “It bottlenecks just there – and that’s where I got tangled up.”

You reach into the open takeaway box in his lap and pluck out another something to eat. You wave the food at him while you playfully scold him, “You should have just circled back at that point.” Two grunts of approval from the front seat support your statement. You catch the eye and smile at the guard that isn’t driving when he looks in the rearview mirror. Other than the brief instructions they gave you in the restaurant they’ve been quiet. Jason takes advantage of your distraction to ensnare your hand and bring the food in your fingertips to his mouth. “Hey!”

He doesn’t release your hand while he chews. “I was already running late.” He pauses to draw your fingers back to his mouth to suck away some of the sauce that had remained on your fingertips. “Besides, I knew you were waiting for me, there was only one direction my feet would agree to.”

You want to continue arguing your point but your words appear to be caught in your throat. It’s the eye contact while his mouth removes the sauce from your fingertips that has done it. The noise you make is half delight, half squeak.

Damn it Jason, there are other people in the car. He winks at you while releasing your hand. Smug, adorable, tease of a man – he is using any means necessary to keep from admitting that you are right. Before he can catch your hand again you scoop up another piece of food and pop it into your mouth which incidentally gives you time to loosen your voice once more. There are untouched boxes in the bag that sit in the floorboard between you and him.. “If these are what she considers a quickly packed sampler I can’t wait to see the full menu.”

He nods while his eyes search your face. “I hoped you would like the food. Though by making reservations for dinner tomorrow we may have limited our sightseeing plans.”

“I thought we’d figured this out already.” Jason's look of confusion makes you giggle. “Another trip?” The car is slowing to pull into the parking lot, trying to gently push past the gathered crowd waiting on the street beyond. Days on the set of All Your Monsters were nothing like this. “Oh wow – there are so many people. I’m surprised you even made it out through this.”

Now Jason has turned to look at the numerous fans as well. “I um, I didn’t use this entrance.”

You hear the driver mutter something under his breath and the other guard nods before turning in his seat to address the both of you. “Most of them have been here since Jason got here this morning. Ok. Just so we’re all on the same page…” He stops because the both of you haven’t turned back to look at him. He lets out a sigh, “You want to greet them don’t you.”

Jason is still looking at the crowd. “They’ve been out there a long time.”

“Jason do I need to remind you -" He stops and looks at you, "help me out here.”

You are watching Jason look out at the gathering. His internal struggle is evident. After being chased a number of blocks he is wary but still hating the idea that he is disappointing his fans. When Jason turns to look at you you give him a small nod of understanding before turning to reply to the guard. “Yes, we want to greet them.”

You are graced with a brief frown from the security guard before he turns back in his seat. Clearly he thought you would support him since you had just been vocal about your feelings about Jason's safety. This is different, you reason. The situation is more controlled and there are numerous security guards to help keep things from devolving. Before getting out of the now parked car the guard shakes his head at the driver and shrugs. “Alright. It’s your food that is getting cold. The two of you stay between us. If one of us says it is time to go, it is time to go.”

Jason has already closed the lid on the takeaway container and is pushing it back into the bag with the others. “Just a quick hello.” He promises. Somehow he ends up with your bag and you end up with the food. Holding the food is fine with you. You are only here visiting, this is his moment, not yours. You even try a few times to take a side-step away to allow him to focus his attention more thoroughly on the fans but each time he wrangles you back in. Finally he wraps his arm around you and pulls you close to whisper into your ear, “Stop that. You’re making me paranoid. Did I sweat that much during the run? Do I need a shower?”

“What? No. You smell…” you pause to inhale and oh, you really shouldn’t have done that. Your brain offers up – delicious. No – that’s the scent of the food still lingering on his clothes. No – that’s your sex drive offering up less than helpful thoughts as a result of his sucking at your fingers earlier. You bite your lip, searching for a word that doesn’t further your frustration. “Errr – fine. You smell fine. You smell like you.” Mmmm but he mentioned showering and your brain careens to thoughts of his request this morning that you shower with him. And now you have the rest of the day to sit and stew while he works. You wink and offer up a teasing smile, “Ask me again later and I might help you wash away the day.”

Jason’s eyebrows raise at the comment and he turns to fully face you. The security guard clears his throat to interrupt the moment. “Jason. They’re calling for you in wardrobe.”

You watch his shoulders rise and fall with an exaggerated inhale and exhale of breath. You lick your lips. Oh dear, did you break him? The guard shifts, unsure what to do since Jason hasn’t indicated that he heard. Jason expels another breath before he turns his head to nod at the guard. As he waves goodbye to his fans and walks with you towards the building he mutters to you. “I knew I was in trouble when you were biting your lip but….” He doesn’t finish the sentence with words but with a slow shake of his head as he pulls you closer.

Rather than take up some of the limited space in Jason's dressing room, and torturing yourself by watching him change, you choose to wait for him to settle in for makeup. It is difficult to judge where you will be the most out of the way – at home is the correct response, but Jason refused to see reason on that point. You end up sitting atop the counters that line the wall directly opposite of the giant mirrors and work stations for the makeup artists. With your legs crossed up into a half lotus and the bag of takeaway boxes on the counter next to you, this is just about as out of the way as you can manage. A few of the Jason’s costars arrive for touch ups, curious as to your presence but too focused on the job to pry in depth before they leave the room again. You are still working on sampling the various takeaway boxes when Jason appears. He scans the room once and upon spotting you beelines in your direction while chuckling at your location.

“Well that didn’t take long.” You are surprised by the costume, parts of it are soiled and torn. Apparently they are already filming the fight sequences that he and Theo were learning techniques for back in LA a few weeks ago. Jason gives you a quick peck on the cheek and accepts the proffered takeaway container from you before wandering to his seat to allow the makeup artists to get to work. “I haven’t seen or heard Theo yet. Is he the one to have done that?” Dear Lord just seeing him in costume is making your brain want to make the time jump with him. You motion to your own shoulder to indicate the rip you see on his corresponding sleeve.

Jason is watching you in the mirror now that he is seated in the makeup chair. “Mmm I’ll remember to scold him. He’s off pouting that I will once again win the fight."

It is amazing the magic that can be worked with a little bit of prosthetic, skill, and patience. When Jason holds his shirt open you see that a wound has already been replicated and applied to his bicep. You hadn’t noticed that with all the excitement earlier. You don’t have a good vantage point to view the condition of the prosthesis, but the two makeup artists tut at Jason, saying the prosthetic is peeling up in a few places. He doesn’t counter with an explanation as to why, only apologizes for being careless with their work. It just takes a second to repair but they seem to enjoy reprimanding him. He doesn’t have to sit long before they declare him finished – the parts of his shoulder and arm that are visible through the tear in his shirt now bloodied and a small prosthetic applied along his forearm. His exposed skin has been dressed to match the condition of his soiled clothing. You had tried to hold your tongue and remain seated throughout the process but found yourself unable to contain your thoughts. Most men clean up nicely – Jason, you muse, has the ability to look good even coated in grime.

This crew, bless them, seem to have endless patience with your continued presence. You have ended up standing just off to the side of Jason’s left knee to watch the final touches being added to the area on his forearm. If you hadn’t just watched them apply it to his skin you would be panicked and searching for gauze and a compress. He stretches his arms out wide to test the movement of the newly applied piece until both he and the artists are satisfied.

Time for work now. He cocks his head to one side to ask, “A kiss for luck?”

He has spades of talent, like he needs luck on his side. You roll your eyes and lean in to kiss him. You pause though, backtracking quickly just before your hand would have made contact with his neck for balance. The face Jason makes at your motions draws laughter from the makeup artists still lingering at their work stations. You are looking to them to make sure you won’t mess up their carefully applied work. “Is it safe?” You resume the action once you are given the go ahead.

Even after receiving his kissJason is still playfully petulant. He tries to pull you into his lap but you manage to escape his grasp. “Come here. I’m supposed to look giddy and disheveled.”

“Giddy and disheveled and covered in dirt and blood. They worked hard to get you that way.” You nod towards his two makeup artists who are trying to reset their stations while also enjoying the entertainment that you and Jason are providing. “Let’s keep in on the appropriate surface then, ok? You, not me.”

Since no other actors have arrived to have their makeup applied or touched up you stay behind after Jason leaves and talk with the crew members about their work. Jason had finished off the last of the one open takeaway box but there are still a few in the bag that remain unopened. You leave one box with the makeup artists and get directions to the craft services area to leave the remaining containers with the intent of sharing the wonderful food with the rest of the crew.

Now the question is what to do with the rest of the day to keep busy while Jason is working. He had taken your bag with him when he went to his dressing room. You can probably find your way back there and mess about on your phone, maybe listen to some music… There are probably also more than a few messages that you need to respond to. You pass back by makeup and then stumble upon wardrobe.

Whatever messages you need to review can wait, the costumes for this project are stunning. You engage yourself in conversation with those working at the moment, prompting for details about each piece when they have time. You spot the clothing designed for Jason even before noticing the label near the rack or having it pointed out to you. There are several copies of the shirt that Jason is currently wearing with varying degrees of wear and tear to them. Are these from scenes he has already shot or in preparation for future events? You’ve ended up settling next to one of the guys carefully repairing a ripped seam. He continues his work while he talks with you, quickly moving through the repairs he needs to make.  

The conversation is interrupted by the muted chatter you can barely hear coming through the headset of your current companion. He lets out a laugh and pauses in his work to amble over to the set of clothing marked as belonging to Peter. “They’ve torn another of Theo’s shirts. They’re keeping me busy, at least. I hope they don’t damage any more of them past repair or I’ll be needing to make a run to buy more of them.” He drapes the shirt over his shoulder and motions for you to accompany him, “Convince your boyfriend to go easy on the costumes, yea?”  

There are a fair few people milling about when you reach the set, more than you would consider normal. You soon see why. Theo is shirtless and sweating from exertion as a result of the action sequence, his trousers having numerous gashes and smears of fake blood as well. No wonder there are so many people standing around, he is just as well-toned as Jason. He dabs away at the sweat carefully before accepting the proffered shirt, exchanging it for the torn one. He spots you among the group and gives you a small wave but you hang back, not wanting to interrupt the momentum they’ve built. You give your head a small shake when he tilts his towards Jason, who has his back turned towards you while he is discussing the scene with the director.

Once Theo is back in costume and everyone is reset they start shooting the scene again. You aren’t quite prepared for the way the pair of them throw themselves into their fight. Your breath catches with each lunge. They know the routine well and they are being supervised yet your stomach still clenches with the vehemence of the strikes. One blow sends Theo’s weapon clattering away across the floor, the next leaves him sprawled out and beaten at Jason’s feet. Jason still hasn’t spotted you, even when he turns to walk towards the camera where one of his female costars is positioned.

The sequence ends and everyone starts to move about again to reset while Jason helps Theo back up off the floor. Jason hasn’t relayed the full plot to you so you are studying the nuances of the scene trying to figure out the context of the fight between the two men. Was it a love triangle? Which was fighting to protect her? Had either of them told you which was the hero and which was the villain?

You’re tempting fate, continuing to stand here to watch them during filming but you can’t seem to force your feet to carry you away. With much hesitation you make it a few steps away from the group and that much closer to the door when the director’s words make you pause. “Good. Good. Once more. This time, Jason, revel in your victory over Theo a bit after you’ve thrown him down before turning to continue on to your confrontation with Ava.”

Well you’ve no choice now but to stay and see what Jason does. You’ve moved just enough that you are viewing the sequence from a different angle, pretty much from the vantage point of the camera. Both men are probably going to be exhausted with the way they are throwing themselves into the action. Jason will probably fall right into bed tonight he is pushing so hard. The lingerie will have to wait – no horseplay tonight – though maybe you can sweet talk him into letting you give him a massage.

You are pulled from your thoughts when Jason once again throws Theo to the floor. You’ve seen so much of Jason’s work, the wide range of emotions that he can call forth, and yet the sound he lets loose in conjunction with the way he contorts his face… When he screams, when he screams you can feel it. He is still breathing heavily when he turns away from Theo, still sprawled on the floor, to face the camera and approach it, and Ava.

His expression changes as he sees her, and then his gaze slips past her, beyond the camera, to you. 

Tag list: @my-soupy-brain @tegan8314 @tortilla-maria1 @nerdgirljen @cavillsim @superloveeverything

[neptunehills]

Taurus Gift Guide | Ten Great Gifts for Any Taurus

Celebrating a Taurus this season and not sure what to get ? Here are ten great gift ideas for the Taurus in your life :

Bown of London Womens Hooded Robe $129.99 - 100% Cotton in a multi-color way. Light robe that is perfect for the summer season!

Legend Bill Organizer & Budget Planner $32.99 - High quality large financial planner that comes in many colors. Bound in a vegan leather and is packaged in a perfect gift box!

Back to Roots Hydroponic Indoor Grow Kit $38.57 - Self watering countertop grow kit. Includes organic seeds and automatic LED lights.

Hello Kitty Taurus T-Shirt $19.99 - Super cute unisex Hello Kitty t-shirt. Comes in multiple colors and is fun gift for any Taurus!

Hap Tim Picnic Backpack for 4 $79.99 - Complete picnic set all nicely kept in a luxury backpack. Comes in dark grey or green.

Nespresso Vertuo Coffee & Espresso Machine $188.97 - 5 cup coffee maker that makes the perfect cup every time! Includes milk frother and starter pods.

Alice Mushrooms Nightcap & Brainstorm Duo Chocolates $52.50 - Mushroom chocolates that light up the brain with clarity or turn things down. Great addition to any medicine cabinet.

Vanilla Cream Soy Candle $26.99 - 19.4oz of pure vanilla cream scent. A 2 wick candle made with 100% organic wax.

Ugg Tazz Slipper $129.95 - A platform suede slipper in mustard seed. Comes in a variety colors. A classic slipper that always delights!

Conair Waterfall Foot Spa $42.29 - Gift a luxury experience with this Conair foot spa. A massage foot spa that is instantly satisfying with it s massage features.

These gifts are inspired by the need for comfort, relaxation, and pleasure. Gift the Taurus in your life a bit of luxury this year.

[ronnymerchant]

From a French film magazine- 1952.

Left to right- FREAKS, the CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. FRANKENSTEIN, the WEREWOLF OF LONDON, MAD LOVE, the MYSTERIES OF PARIS, the MUMMY, TORTICOLA MEETS FRANKENBERG, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, the MUMMY’s GHOST, the MONSTER MAKER, and the DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.

Whew!

[sanguinaryrot]

hiii thanks for rbing my horror recs post! sorry it took a while but here's your recs! :)

based on saw i'd recommend the collector (2009) & the collection (2012), my little eye (2002), cube (1997) and dread (2009) because they're all about being stuck in a trap/experiment with peak 2000s vibes/editing.

based on the rocky horror picture show i'd recommend the lure (2015) and repo! the genetic opera (2008) because they're queer/goth horror musicals. i'd also recommend alucarda (1977), frankenhooker (1990), hellbent (2004), bit (2019), i saw the tv glow (2024) and vampyros lesbos (1971) for visually beautiful (queer) horror.

based on re-animator i'd recommend night of the creeps (1986), an american werewolf in london (1981), lost boys (1987), butcher baker nightmare maker (1981) and brain damage (1988) because they’re all super fun 80s horrors with gay undertones.

based on the silence of the lambs i'd recommend you longlegs (2024), pulse (2001), se7en (1995), the empty man (2020), terrified (2017) and lake mungo (2008) because they're all about investigations that get weird and fucked up.

based on dracula (1931) i'd recommend carnival of souls (1962), nosferatu (1922), frankenstein (1931), let the right one in (2008), let's scare jessica to death (1971), the cabinet of dr caligari (1920), suspiria (1977) and sleepy hollow (1999) because they're all slow and beautifully atmospheric. 

hope there's some you haven't seen yet! :)

Holy cow!!!! I didn’t expect to actually get this message given how many notes that post got! Very impressive!!!!! Thank you I will definitely be checking a bunch of these out yippeeeeee!!!!!

[thoughtportal]

Biscuit (cookie) flavour: Almond and orange, taken from an eighteenth-century recipe for Ratafia-Cakes

Decoration: Royal icing base. All designs painted onto royal icing by hand using food colouring gels and vodka.

Context: Inspired by trade cards from eighteenth-century London. Moving clockwise from the top left:

James Reynolds – Haberdasher (c. 1750, British Museum)

John Lockington – Engraver, Hair Worker & Toy Manufacturer (c. 1733-69, Lewis Walpole Library)

Elizabeth Bagwell – Linen Draper (c. 1750, British Museum)

Owen & Cox – Cabinet Makers & Upholsterers (c. 1790-6, British Museum)

[chapmanrestoration]

Fine, Scarce and Important George II Triple Folding Mahogany Harlequin Games Table by Thomas Potter

* A true triple folding harlequin table, all too often others are called triple yet have only two actual folding leaves upon its base, this table is however a true piece of ingenious craftsmanship from the dawn of these tables which has three fully folding leaves and is fully attributed to the inventor of such tables, that being Thomas Potter, master cabinet maker of High Holborn, London.

Circa 1735-40 this George II mahogany triple-folding harlequin games/card table comes complete with its original two keys, one of which is an absolute work of art in its own right, as well as a full chess set, ivory die and shakers.

Measuring 78cm high, 80cm wide, 38cm deep [76cm when extended]

The three rectangular folding tops with rounded edges open out upon an adjustable height stay on the rear gate-leg where it can be adjusted for the different heights required by which ever leaf has been opened.

The Leaves:

The first opens to a plain polished tea-table, where upon this can be folded back and the second fold opened to reveal a fully inlaid backgammon and chessboard with ivory escutcheons, the third and final fold opens to a baize lined games table with four guinea-wells, by Pressing down upon the two original brass pulls located either side of the base it then propels the cartonnier effortlessly to it’s maximum height upon its four original steel springs located within the carcass.

The piece now transformed into a desk with pigeon holes, drawers for documents and inkwells and a fitted adjustable bookrest also has hidden away within the right hand side is a folding frame which fits into the ivory escutcheons of the backgammon table.

Standing on tapered legs terminating in pad feet with enclosed brass skirted castors.. Folded away it returns to an elegant table where its base moulding conforms delightfully to those of the folding leaves.

A very honest and true tour de force from the early Georgian period.

Thomas potter:

Master Cabinetmaker of Holborn, was known to have taken on as apprentice Michael Bonsfield in 1731 along with his son Philip Potter in 1746.

Potter was also known to work with master cabinet maker John Kelsey of Westminster, between them they supplied fine furniture to the some of the countries elite including Sir Richard Colt Hoare of Barn Elms, Richmond and Sir Justinian Isham the 5th Baronet of Lamport at Lamport Hall, Northamptonshire.

Further information:

A design for a table of this form is shown on the trade card of Thomas Potter (see images above) cabinet maker of High Holborn, now at Victoria and Albert Museum (ref. no. E.2320-1889). An English table of this model is at Temple Newsam House in Leeds and is illustrated, together with Potter's drawing, in G. Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, vol. iii., Leeds, 1998, pp.658-660. The name `Harlequin' was used to describe a table of this multi purpose form and derives from the master-of-disguises in 18th century commedia dell' arte theatre.

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Monday 30 December 1833

9 ½

12 35

fine morning F43° at 9 40 am - breakfast at 11 – CN- went to Malton almost immediately after - very kind letter 3 pages and the 2nd page crossed from Comtesse de Blucher (Copenhagen) dated the 17th inst. the ends written and crossed ditto ditto under, the seal by Miss Ferrall - really jealous of my having [written]  to her sister instead of herself   owns she Miss F- is fonder of me than anyone  how much I am regretted at Copenhagen - must return - Letter also 2 pages and 2 lines from Miss Walker- will count each day and hour to my arrival   cannot be too grateful to me came to my room at 2 or before and wrote 3 pages to my aunt at Shibden to say I should accept Miss Walkers’ offer for myself and leave Thomas and Eugenie at Shibden -  be there by 6 or 7 on Saturday evening - see my aunt and then walk if fine, or take the carriage if not at Lidgate - should see my aunt every day till I could get all ready for me at home which I hoped to do in 3 weeks - said if Charles H- had not taken the oak boards and began preparing them for the hall-under drawing, he was to wait till my return - if he had begun them it was all well - then wrote  2 pages and 2 or 3 lines to ‘Miss Walker, Lidgate, Halifax’ to keep Miss Elizabeth Atkinson with her till Saturday morning then take her home saying she expected me in the evening - on 2nd thoughts should leave my servants at Shibden, and then, after seeing my aunt, be at Lidgate about 8 in the evening of that day - she had better  not say anything about going to York till the plan was fixed - my letter altogether a kind one -she should cheer up now she had so much reason to hope all she could desire - will do all I can for her – never to think of repaying me – once well again, her health and happiness would be enough and all that I desired – ‘affectionately and faithfully yours AL.’ Norcliffe and his son (aetatis 8 ½) arrived about 2 - downstairs ¼ hour and sent off my letters by Thomas at 4 - to my aunt Shibden and Miss Walker vide above - out in the garden at 4 10 and walked there ½ hour - dressed - dinner at 5 - coffee tea - Norcliffe agreeable enough - went to his room at 10 - ½ hour afterwards went Mrs. N- and IN- Charlotte and I came upstairs at 11 ¼ -wrote the above of today - all the morning talking to IN- or Mrs. N- in her room - she recommends Willoughby of New street York to give me an elevation of a bridge for  Trough of Bolland wood, and Sharpe (as an architect) of the same street and place about the hall - Norcliffe says Wolstenholm of the Manor house, York, is excellent for oak-carving – Taprall and Holland cabinet makers 19 Marylebone Piccadilly London made the screen of 6 leaves 7ft. high at 50/. a lead and would be 4/. a leaf 6ft. high – carriage from London here by waggon 26/. – there is Bulman cabinet maker Albion street Leeds – and Taylor ditto ditto, Ousegate, York – fine day – F44° now at 12 tonight

Engine turned flat silver lever watch (best £12) of Hornby 41 Poole Lane, Liverpool. recommended by Norcliffe

Waller Dawson Livery stable keeper near the English Quay St. Petersburg

[goldjointogether]

Built around the existing navy Aga, Bridie describes this look as ‘typical Ben Pentreath country-house style’. Traditional cabinets with olive-green paintwork in a gloss finish provide a rich contrast with cheery red and white Marmoleum floor tiles arranged in a chequerboard pattern .

[blinkaholik1]

Reliquary Continued

Recent Acquisition As the foremost Italian cabinetmaker of the 18th century, Pietro Piffeti was in the service of the royal House of Savory for over 40 years. Piffetti’s works are remarkable for their technical skill; the intricate marquetry decoration on this prie-dieu is all the more impressive when one considers the difficulty of veneering curved surfaces. Thes prie-dieu-a kneeling bench used at home for personal devotion - was most likely made for the youngest son of Carl Emmanuel III, King of Sardinia, for use in the Palace of Venaria, the family’s hunting lodge outside Turin. A door in the center of the prie-dieu conceals a small cabinet for a rosary and prayer books, and the drawer at the base would have held a padded kneeler. The interiors of the cabinet retains its original pink paint; popular in the mid-18th century, the color pink did not yet have the feminine associations it does today. Door About 1750 Design attributed to Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, 1727-1804) Venice Wood, gessoed and lacquered with polychrome decoration and gilding Bessie Bennett Endowment, 1953.461 Side Chair About 1740 Giles Grendey (English, 1693-1780) London Walnut and 18th-century, replaced upholstery Gift of the Antiquarian Society, through the Mrs. Edgar J. Uihlein Fund, 1983.718 Desk and Bookcase 1732 John Kirkhoffer (Irish, born Germany, active 1730s) Dublin Walnut, holly, mirror glaze, and brass Gift of Robert Allerton, 1957.200 When this walnut desk and bookcase was purchased by the Art Institute of Chicago in 1957, it was described by the dealer as “English, about 1710.” Only recently have the name of the maker and date, “John Kirkhoffer Facit [sic] 1732,” been found inscribed in pencil on the bottom of the lower right drawer. As the oldest known piece of signed and dated Irish furniture, it has become a Rosetta Stone for attributing other closely related examples of Dublin cabinetary, especially those notable for their use of similar marquetry inlay. Candelabra, 1700/20 England Glass Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Bryan, 2012.866 Seated Buddist Cult Figure and Potpourri Vase, c. 1740 France Chantilly Porcelain Factory (founded c. 1725) Soft-paste porcelain Gift of Mrs. Hareold C. Smith and the Antiuarian Society, 1969.225 The Louis Smith Bross Gallery (206-234B) Coffer 1700/20 Attributed to Andres-Charles Boulle (French, 1642-1732) Paris Oak, tortoiseshell, brass, gilt copper, pewter, ebony, and gilt-bronze mounts Michael A. Bradshaw and Kenneth S. Harris, Eloise W. Martin, Richard T. Crane. Jr., Memorial, and European Decorative Arts Purchase funds; through prior acquisitions of Mrs. C. H. Boissevain in memory of Henry C. Dangler, Kate S. Buckingham Endowment, David Dangler, Harold T. Martin, and Katherine Field-Rodman, 2001.54 Looking Glass About 1700 Probably London Gessoedand gilt pine, verre eglomise (reverse-pained glass), gilding, and mirror glass Gift of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Colburn, 1968.424

[scotianostra]

Victoria Helen McCrae Duncan was born on November 25th 1897 in Callander.

Known as Helen Duncan, in 1944, she became last person in the UK to be tried, convicted and imprisoned under the 1735 Witchcraft Act.

Hellish Nell, as she became known, was actually a medium, and by all accounts not a very good one, the way she earned her living was to hold seances and charge plenty for her services, but she was rumbled several times as a fraud.

Nor was she the last person convicted under the 1753 Act – now repealed and replaced with the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951 – because in fact three other people were on trial alongside her and one of them was sent to prison, too. Yet somehow the “last witch” nickname has stuck, though records clearly show that some months after her trial and imprisonment in September 1944, one Jane York, 72, from Forest Gate, East London, was charged under the same act with seven counts of pretending to conjure up spirits of the dead. Incredibly, York was simply bound over for the sum of £5 to be of good behaviour for three years.

Ah, but that happened after D-Day, and there is no question when you examine the evidence that the authorities wanted to make an example of Helen Duncan and put her away for the summer of 1944.

From an early age her own family saw her as fey, and her mother was mortified when the child’s behaviour became impossible – she would predict doom and destruction for all sorts of people and was given to outbursts of hysteria.

Her early life was otherwise normal. She moved to Dundee and worked at the Royal Infirmary where she met Henry Edward Duncan, a wounded war veteran and a cabinet maker. They were married in 1916, and Duncan would eventually have six children by Henry who saw a great way of making money from his wife’s talents in clairvoyance – she read tea leaves and made predictions and earned a few shillings for doing so.

By 1926 she had become a fully-fledged medium giving seances during a time when spiritualism was all the rage. Moving to Edinburgh, her seances were soon the talk of the town – even the ghost of that local man turned Sherlock Holmes creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a great believer in spiritualism, was said to have materialised at sittings.

A prominent feature of her seances was her apparent ability to produce “ectoplasm” from her mouth during her trances when she was transformed into her spirit partners Albert or Peggy, a young girl whose voices “spoke” through Duncan. She had grown quite obese and the contrast between this 20-stone woman and the childish voices was part of the reason why people believed in her.

It was at a seance in January 1933 that Peggy emerged in the seance room and a sitter named Esson Maule grabbed her. The lights were turned on and the spirit was revealed to be made of a cloth undervest which used as evidence that led to Duncan’s conviction on the Scottish offence of fraud at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in May 1933.

The conviction does not seem to have harmed her career. Duncan was by then making a good living by conducting seances throughout Britain at which “the spirits of the dead were alleged to have appeared, sometimes talking to and even touching their relatives”.

Duncan began to get more famous but also began to be more scrutinized. Director Harry Price of the National Laboratory of Psychical Research examined her. He deemed her ‘ectoplasms’ to be made of cheese and eggs which she would regurgitate up. Price was less than impressed by what he felt was a show woman, exploiting people for money.

“Could anything be more infantile than a group of grown-up men wasting time, money, and energy on the antics of a fat female crook.”

During World War Two, Duncan lived in Portsmouth, the home of the Royal Navy. In 1941, the spirit of a sailor reportedly appeared at one of her seancés announcing that he had just gone down on a vessel called the Barham. HMS 'Barham' was not officially declared lost until several months later, its sinking having been kept secret to mislead the enemy and protect morale.

Unsurprisingly, Duncan's activities attracted the attention of the authorities and on 19 January 1944, one of her séances was interrupted by a police raid during which she and three members of her audience were arrested.

Duncan was remanded in custody by Portsmouth magistrates. She was originally charged under section 4 of the Vagrancy Act (1824), under which most charges relating to fortune-telling, astrology and spiritualism were prosecuted by magistrates in the 20th century. This was considered a relatively petty charge and usually resulted in a fine if proved. She was eventually tried by jury at the Old Bailey for contravening section 4 of the Witchcraft Act of 1735, which carried the heavier potential penalty of a prison sentence.

In particular, the medium and her three sitters were accused of pretending 'to exercise or use human conjuration that through the agency of Helen Duncan spirits of deceased persons should appear to be present'. Duncan was also charged with offences under the Larceny Act for taking money 'by falsely pretending that she was in a position to bring about the appearances of the spirits of deceased persons'.

The trial caused a media sensation and was extensively covered in the newspapers, many of which revelled in printing cartoons of witches on broomsticks. At one stage, the defence announced that Duncan was prepared to demonstrate her abilities in the witness box. This amounted to conducting a séance in the court while in a state of trance and the offer was refused.

Duncan was found guilty as charged under the Witchcraft Act and sentenced to nine months in Holloway Prison, London, but she was cleared of the other offences. She was the last person in Britain to be jailed under the act, which was repealed in 1951 and replaced with the Fraudulent Mediums Act following a campaign by spiritualist and member of parliament Thomas Brooks.

There are two common misconceptions about Duncan's conviction. The first is that she was the last person in Britain to be convicted of being a witch. In fact, the Witchcraft Act was originally formulated to eradicate the belief in witches and its introduction meant that from 1735 onwards an individual could no longer be tried as a witch in England or Scotland. However, they could be fined or imprisoned for purporting to have the powers of a witch.

The second misconception is that she was the last person to be convicted under the Witchcraft Act. Again this is incorrect. Records show that the last person to be convicted under the Witchcraft Act was Jane Rebecca Yorke in late 1944. Due to her age (she was in her seventies) she received a comparatively lenient sentence and was fined.

Additionally, it has often been suggested that the reason for Duncan's imprisonment was the authorities' fear that details of the imminent D-Day landings might be revealed, and given the revelation about the Barham it is clear to see why the medium might be considered a potential risk. Nonetheless, then prime minister Winston Churchill wrote to the home secretary branding the charge 'obsolete tomfoolery'.

Helen Duncan was released from prison on the 22 September 1944 and seems to have avoided further trouble until November 1956, when the police raided a private séance in Nottingham on suspicion of fraudulent activity. No charges were brought and shortly afterwards, on 6 December in the same year, the woman who is sometimes remembered as the 'last witch' died.

A campaign by her descendents to clear her name continues to this day.

The first pic is a bust f Helrn, which was presnted to the town of Callander, but such is the atitudes towards her it was rejected, it i nowon display at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

[ronnymerchant]

From a French film magazine- 1952.

Left to right- FREAKS, the CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. FRANKENSTEIN, the WEREWOLF OF LONDON, MAD LOVE, the MYSTERIES OF PARIS, the MUMMY, TORTICOLA MEETS FRANKENBERG, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, the MUMMY’s GHOST, the MONSTER MAKER, and the DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.

Whew

[allovertheworldblog]

Tokyo Story

Before I got to Tokyo I stopped off in Nagoya for a couple of days.

I’d been in Japan for a couple of weeks at this stage and felt a bit like I’d been rushing towards Tokyo.

I expected a lot from Tokyo, yet I wanted to put it off a little bit longer so I’d appreciate it all the more.

Nagoya is the Motor City of Japan.

Home of Toyota, Nagoya is one of the industrial powerhouses of Japan.

Because of it’s industrial and military output the city was flattened in World War II.

After the war the city was rebuilt.

As a consequence it looks different to many other cities in Japan.

It has an unbelievable number of luxury brand stores, Tiffaney etc, just like other big cities in Japan.

But it has broad boulevards that you don’t find in Osaka or Kobe. 

It gives the place a Parisian feel. The city also has a TV tower that you could be forgiven for thinking looks a tiny bit like the Eiffel Tower. 

In Nagoya I did a tour of the Toyota Factory museum.

It gives a fascinating look back at the story of the biggest car maker in the world, how they started out making looms and how they developed. 

Another day in Nagoya I travelled to Meji Mura park where the built heritage from around the country that was in danger of being knocked down in the rush to build sky scrapers has been collected together.

So, all together in a park in the middle of the countryside you have, the entrance and lobby from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel which stood in Tokyo and survived a major earthquake and the War

a police box from Tokyo;

an entire post office

a section of the Kawasaki Bank; a church;

the Japanese Cabinet Library

a couple of bridges; a train and a train line; even a lighthouse.

In Meji Mura I learned a couple of things about that I never knew about before, about the Japanese that emigrated to Hawaii and in big numbers to Brazil in the 19th century; that skiing was only introduced to Japan in the 20th century. 

The hostel crowd on my first night was pretty limited. There was only one other foreigner there apart from me.

A young guy from Canada. He was on a break from some other part of Japan for the night.

Yet he stayed in the hostel all the time and played on his computer. Maybe it was just the change of location that appealed to him.

A young Japanese guy was another guest in the hostel. For some unknown reason on his computer he played and sang along to the Australian national anthem repeatedly during the course of the evening. Apart from that he was a nice guy.

The next night I went back to the hostel to collect my things after being gone all day. There was a new crowd, totally different.

There was a Japanese guy who’d lived abroad, who’d been to Brazil and Colombia, and is bringing his motorcycle down to Okinawa ;

a 19-year old American guy who was travelling in Japan on his own who had learnt some Japanese himself;

an Irish guy studying in London, who’d somehow developed an English accent;

an American Japanophile lady and her Japanese friend;

an English guy with a silly beard and his odd Aussie in-laws. 

In the hour while I was hanging around the hostel, trying desperately to book a bus ticket and putting together my things we all had a great time.

I was sorry to be leaving. 

In order to get from Nagoya to Tokyo I needed a ticket, this was the hard part.

Not that there weren’t busses and trains going to Tokyo every hour. But where to find the bus station. 

Earlier in the day I’d tried desperately to find the bus station. I knew it was somewhere around the colossal main train station.

Busses really do play second fiddle to trains in Japan.

Trains run to exacting schedules, so do the busses in Japan, just at lesser intervals.

Trains in Japan, in particular the Shinkansen or Bullet Train are part of the national psyche.

Trains are favoured and promoted over busses.

When you tell someone you’re taking a bus or even thinking about it they look at you like there’s something wrong with you. 

They tell you how much time you’ll save by taking the train. 

I was determined to take the bus to Tokyo, it would be cheaper than the train and if I took a night bus I’d be able to sleep on it, saving on the cost of accommodation for the night.

It would get me to Tokyo early the next day.

I eventually found the bus office of the JR BUS company, a bus company owned by Japan Rail.

Inexplicably they would only accept ‘made in Japan’ credit cards as the sales assistant described them. I’d have to pay cash.

I don’t think I found one long distance or inter city bus company that accepted credit cards.

I think they even found it odd that a person would want to pay by credit card.

They thought it perfectly normal to accept only cash.

Finally I had my ticket and was ready to go.

I had a seat on the 'Youth Dream 2’, bus services are sometimes given a name in Japan.

Mine was a nighttime service, hence the 'dream’ bit.

And the 'youth’ part was meant to mean that the seats mightn’t be as comfortable as on premium services. 

The curtains are drawn tight on the 'Youth Dream 2’. The driver comes on the microphone when we’re all settled in.

He’s ever so gentle, he’s almost whispering into the microphone. 

The 'dream’ service isn’t necessarily a nightmare but we get to Tokyo Station the next morning so early that I wish I’d taken a sleeping pill. It’s 05.30 and the sun is up.

Tokyo is fully lit.

Pulling into Tokyo Station I see a Tokyo that is definitely a city of gleaming towers more than one of dreaming spires.

with plenty more gleaming towers on the way

There’s nothing open in the station apart from a ticket sales booth. Still, I hang around for a couple of hours.

I take a couple of subways to my hostel in the Asakusa district.

One of the first people I pass by on the street in Asakusa after getting off the metro is a Sumo wrestler.

He’s out for a walk.

This is Tokyo!

[fuzzysparrow]

What is the acronym for the UK government's crisis response committee?

The United Kingdom's response to emergencies and crises is facilitated by the Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, commonly known as COBRA. It serves as a central hub for key decision-makers, including ministers, senior officials, and experts from various government departments, agencies, and emergency services.

COBRA was first established in the early 1970s during the Cold War era. Its purpose was to address potential threats to national security, such as nuclear attacks or major civil emergencies. Over time, COBRA's role expanded to encompass a broader range of crises, including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, pandemics, and other significant incidents.

COBRA is chaired by the Prime Minister or a senior minister designated by the Prime Minister. The committee's membership includes relevant government ministers, senior civil servants, and representatives from key agencies, such as the police, military, intelligence services, and health authorities. The attendees may vary depending on the nature and scale of the crisis at hand.

COBRA has been activated on numerous occasions throughout its existence. Some notable instances include the response to the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, the 2005 London bombings, the 2008 financial crisis, and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. In each case, COBRA played a pivotal role in coordinating the government's response, ensuring a swift and effective approach to mitigate the impact of the crisis.

[corallapis]

Henry ‘Chips’ Channon: The Diaries (Vol. 1), 1918-38, entry for 7th July 1923

— 

Saturday 7th July  Gerry [Wellesley] motored me to Polesden Lacey ... Mrs Ronnie Greville's,¹ where I am for the weekend. A fashionable party here, but not at all my stunt .... Mrs Greville is a perfect hostess. She even plays golf despite her massive form, with the professional. The house is too luxurious and constipated ... it cannot digest so much rich furniture, rare tapestries, buhl² and objets de vertu ...³ and food that must make Lucullus⁴ jealous in Paradise. The Yorks honeymooned here ... what strange spell does Mrs Greville cast on royalties? I suspect it is her large fortune to which there is no heir ... or her colossal jewels???⁵

— 1. Margaret 'Maggie' Helen Anderson (1863-1942), daughter of William McEwan, Scottish brewing magnate. She married in 1891 Ronald Henry Fulke Greville (1864-1908), who became a Conservative MP; a close friend of Queen Mary, she was one of London's leading hostesses before and after the Great War, with weekend parties at Polesden Lacey, near Dorking in Surrey. Although always referred to as Mrs Ronnie Greville, she had become Dame Maragaret Greville in 1922.

2. Richly ornate French furniture of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries designed by André Charles Boulle (1642-1732), the leading cabinet maker specialising in marquetry, one of whose main patrons was Louis XIV.

3. An antique object of especially fine workmanship.

4. Lucius Licinius Lucullus (118-57 BC) was a Roman politician and gastronome.

5. The jewels, including some allegedly owned by Marie Antoinette, were left in 1942 to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Consort.